RIS identified as EC policy priority

News > RIS identified as EC policy priority

The EC and the IWT stakeholders want to reverse the downward trend for IWT in comparison to other transport modes, i.e. to increase the volumes of IWT freight and improve IWT sustainability performance. On 11 January 2011, a common need was expressed to refocus the current NAIADES programme and step up the ambition under the future NAIADES 2 programme around three priority areas : 1) Greening of IWT, 2) Jobs and Skills and 3) River information Services (RIS),

On 11 January 2012, some 40 people, representing various EU Member States and stakeholder organisations, participated in an IWT stakeholder meeting in Brussels. The meeting is part of the European consultative process to develop a NAIADES 2 policy, from 2014 onwards. A EC Questionnaire was presented and discussed.  On the consultation process click.

The European Commission intends to issue a IWT Commission Staff Working Document in March 2012, to be presented during the PLATINA Barge2Business event on 14 and 15 March in Vienna. A EC Communication on IWT policy is expected to be issued early 2013. Possible legislative initiatives can be considered, i.e. to improve institutional cooperation between the various international bodies on IWT issues. The Multi Annual Budget Framework 2014-2020 (proposed in June 2011 and under discussion with the EU Member States and EP) is to provide the necessary EU financial means (e.g. related to the TEN-T/Connecting Europe Facility and Horizon 2020 programmes) to support the future EC IWT policy.   

During the meeting, NEA presented the Findings and recommendations of a recently EC approved study on Medium and long term perspectives of Inland Waterway Transport in the European Union . This study (incl annex) was conducted in partnership with CE Delft, via donau, Planco and MDS Transmodal  in 2011. Relating RIS, the NEA presentation identified:

• Unfinished technical regulations
• Unfinished implementation and co-ordination of RIS in Europe
• Unused potential to use RIS for optimising logistics

Concerning RIS, the European Commission remarks in its Questionnaire (page 5)
"In the last five years, authorities have – with support from TEN-T – made significant efforts in implementing RIS and the European Commission is currently finalising the process of the adoption of a number of technical specifications related to River Information Services. Implementation of RIS is however uneven across the EU, there are issues with interoperability of RIS services and the potential benefits of RIS are not fully exploited yet.

At this point in time, the Commission services are considering the need for a RIS policy evaluation which would inform on the efforts required to complete the implementation of the RIS Directive and on the opportunities of reaping the wider benefits of the investments already made.

Question 9: Do you agree that a RIS policy review would be appropriate before deciding upon the future orientation of RIS? "

During the IWT stakeholder meeting, the participants indicated to agree with the need for a RIS policy review before deciding upon the future orientation of RIS.